Wal-Mart hires international compliance chief

Under fire for possibly violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has created the new position of international compliance chief in an effort to prevent future problems.

Earlier this month, Wal-Mart announced in an internal memo that it hired Daniel Trujillo to fill the new position, the Wall Street Journal reported. Trujillo, whose title is senior vice president and chief compliance officer–Walmart International, took over the role earlier this week. Trujillo, 42, left his position as deputy general counsel and director of compliance at oil field services company Schlumberger Ltd. for the Wal-Mart gig. He is a native of Argentina and speaks five languages, according to the WSJ.

“Walmart is committed to having strong and effective compliance programs around the world,” Wal-Mart spokesman David Tovar told the WSJ in an email. “Over the past 18 months, we have made improvements to our global compliance programs and have taken a number of specific, concrete actions with respect to our processes, procedures and people. Today’s announcement is consistent with our ongoing efforts.”

Wal-Mart’s troubles began back in April when a New York Times article accused the company’s subsidiary Wal-Mart de Mexico of engaging in criminal activity to expedite its expansion throughout Mexico by paying bribes to Mexican officials. The article claimed Wal-Mart knew about the illegal activity and covered it up. The company has been embroiled in damage control ever since.

Read more of InsideCounsel’s coverage about Wal-Mart’s possible FCPA violations: